Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 8, 1994 TAG: 9411080069
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
We constantly hear from appointed and elected people about their visions to transform our small, quiet, residential neighborhood into a hodgepodge of commercial activity.
Roanoke forever lost its once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for worldwide recognition during the observance of D-Day's 50th anniversary in June. Our ``visionaries'' procrastinated more than four years, refusing to permit timely construction of the D-Day Memorial while they were on a fast schedule to spend taxpayers' money on Hotel Roanoke ($27.5 million), a conference center ($12.8 million), the Wells Avenue four-lane highway ($5.78 million), and the pedestrian bridge ($5.3 million). The proposed Gainsboro/Second Street four-lane highway will cost about $14.9 million.
The memorial was apparently of no priority, rather than ``low priority'' as reportedly stated by Roanoke's Mayor David Bowers, until Bedford's citizens made such appropriate and beautiful sites available. Do you wonder why Roanoke officials, months late and acres short, rushed to compete against Bedford officials? Who can explain why appointed and elected representatives of Roanoke don't live what they preach by exhibiting regional cooperation with active support of Bedford's quest for the D-Day Memorial?
HELEN E. DAVIS
ROANOKE
'No smoking' invades privacy
NOW I'VE heard it all! No smoking in malls, restaurants, work places, etc. Now, no smoking in your own home?
The Oct. 7 news article (``Smoking tenants ordered to leave'') about the retired couple being forced to move out of their apartment after living there for 23 years shocked me! The South Roanoke Apartment Village is forcing them to leave because their smoking is bothering neighbors and making apartments filthy. Who do these people think they are? Smoke can stain your walls, but I didn't know it's been proved that it can seep through your walls and into your neighbor's home.
Give me a break! Just because we smoke, all of a sudden we're the dirtiest people in the world. The paint in my home might be darkened by smoke, but I have one of the cleanest and neatest homes you'll ever walk into. I feel sorry for that couple. They have a right to smoke in their own home, whether they rent or own.
What's going to be the next article I read on smoking? Hey, I've got it: ``Two people fighting in middle of U. S. 460 hold up traffic for hours.'' A smoker was stopped at a red light beside a nonsmoker. Both cars had their windows down. Nonsmoker hollers to smoker, ``Your cigarette smoke is bothering me. Do you mind?'' Smoker gets out of car, walks over to nonsmoker after a hard day at work, then going to the mall, then eating at a restaurant on the way home. Well, what would you do?
KATHY W. MYERS
ROANOKE
Intimate details were not necessary
IN YOUR Oct. 9 edition, a news article (``Last winter's ice storms yielding October babies'') looked like an innocent human-interest story at first glance. A picture of a smiling young couple expecting a baby soon appeared beside the story. One-fourth of the way through the article, the reader began to receive a barrage of intimate information, i.e., ``they ventured back to their home and climbed into bed.''
The details grew even more graphic: ``Then Len and Vanessa did the bravest thing a couple could do under the circumstances - they took off their thermal underwear. Not all the way off, mind you, but far enough.''
Allowing this kind of journalism in your newspaper has plunged the Roanoke Times & World-News to an all-time low, which borders on trashy.
The young man was quoted as saying that someday his child may ask, ``Mommy, Daddy, where did I come from?'' Another very appropriate question the child could ask would be, ``Why did you `bare' all to tell thousands of people exactly how I was conceived?''
Any more stories like this one, and you'll need to change the newspaper's name to the Star City Enquirer.
KAREN BROWN
PULASKI
Improve U.S. 220 for real smart road
I'M STILL in shock over the Oct. 30 news article concerning Botetourt County's interest in finishing the four-laning of U.S. 220 to Clifton Forge (``Botetourt to push U.S. 220 4-laning''). As a resident of Covington for more than 25 years, and now a resident of the Roanoke Valley for more than 10 years, I can attest to the importance in completing this road.
I've read where millions of dollars are to be spent on a ``smart road'' to Virginia Tech. Well, a completed U.S. 220 would be one of the smartest decisions in spending tax dollars I've seen in years.
First, Westvaco has spent more than $500 million during the past few years expanding its Covington mill. Increased truck traffic due to this expansion is just now being realized.
Second, as a past resident of Alleghany County, I remember making many shopping trips to Roanoke. A four-lane highway from Roanoke to Clifton Forge, where Interstate 64 intersects, eases this trip as well as opening the trading population well into West Virginia.
Third, the airport serving the Homestead resort in Hot Springs will probably close soon, creating even more traffic on U.S. 220 with vacationers using the Roanoke Regional Airport.
By completing U.S. 220, economic benefits will be reaped by all. Roanoke, Botetourt and Alleghany counties and the cities of Clifton Forge, Covington and Roanoke will experience benefits in a completed U.S. 220. While seeing a return on an investment is extremely important to some taxpayers, a completed U.S. 220 might even save lives. Now that's what I call a smart road.
WALLACE H. CLARK III
ROANOKE
Big bank bucks for hanging around
I WAS appalled to read (Oct. 26 Business article, ``Dalhouse will retire in 1996'') that Warner Dalhouse, former chief executive officer of Dominion Bank, was given in effect 18 months to clean out his desk at First Union. Is this his reward for taking Dominion Bankshares down the road to a corporate disaster? Reflect on the effect this personnel decision has on employees who were severed by the bank or those now working for First Union.
These big bank bucks going to Dalhouse are a prime example of corporate welfare for the chosen few. Dalhouse says that Ben Jenkins is ``running the show.''
A better personnel decision would have been to give Dalhouse a moderate financial consideration instead of letting him ``hang around'' for 18 months by terms of this sinecure.
JOHN B. ST.LEGER
ROANOKE
Why celebrate deviant behavior?
THE OCT. 10 letter to the editor, ``A sign of fearful times'' by John and Mary Boenke, certainly is fearful. It's fearful when we're told we should celebrate someone's perverse lifestyle, turn our back on the God who condemns such practices, and somehow compare this ``diversity'' with ethnic background, race and religion.
The letter writers imply that acceptance of someone's sexual orientation will enrich our community. How? I can accept and celebrate the talents and good citizenship of any ``alternative lifestyle'' person, but why should I, or we, be expected to ``celebrate'' the strange behavior that goes on between two same-sex partners? The whole concept of celebrating anyone's deviant sexual behavior is ridiculous!
Let's truly celebrate diversity by accepting the fact that there are people who believe, and will always believe, homosexuality is a sin. Can you, Mr. or Ms. Gay Person, accept those people and celebrate their diversity? If not, please take your billboards down, because your message is hypocritical.
Whoever spray-painted ``Kill the Fags'' on the gay communities' billboard isn't a Christian, at least not the kind God wants us to be. I resent the fact that Christians, whether left, right or center, are blamed for this. Please, gay people and gay supporters, get the message once and for all: Christians don't hate you - not true Christians. True Christians pray for your soul and your salvation.
JOHN J. FREIFELD
BLUE RIDGE
by CNB